Improvement in smut-mills



R. HIENEAGE.

Smut Mill.

No. 56,672* Patented July 24vr 1866.

rl. PETERS4 whowuvhngnpher. wuhmgmn, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT HENEAGE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND J. D. SHEPARD, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SMUT-MILLS.

-Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 56,672. dated July 24, 1866.

To all 'whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT HENEAGE, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of .Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smut-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the` accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is a central vertical section of my improved machine, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section in the plane of line .fr a.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both gures.

The object ot' my improvements is a machine that shall more rapidly and thoroughly perform the functions of a smut-machine than those ordinarily in use 5 and the invention consists in the use of a series of concentric inclined rings attached to a revolving horizontal disk, their inclination and height varying as does the centrifugal force, and being provided with ribs or ledges, radial or inclining to the tangential, for scouring the grain, in combination with stationary ribbed rings, as hereinafterspeciiied5 in constructing the inside of the shell or case of the machine with ribs or ledges placed vertically, or nearly so, used in combination with other parts; in the use and combination of several rings arranged in pairs, one of each pair being provided with ribs similar to those of the case, and the other being arranged within the former, so as to form a guard from which the rebounding grain is deilected beyond the inclined ring beneath.

As represented in the drawings, A A is a tight cylindrical case, divided at intervals into several equal or nearly equal portions by means of the hopper-shaped diaphragms B B, havings openings a a at their center. O is an upright shaft resting in a step, b, supported in any suitable manner at the bottom of the machine and provided with a suitable bearing, c, near its top, which is provided with the bevelepinion d, which gears with a similar one, d, on the horizontal driving-shaft D.

Firmly attached to the shaft C is a series of disks, E E, which rotate beneath the hopperdiaphragms B. Secured to these disks is a number of concentric inclined rings or ledges, j" f (two only being shown,) provided with ribs or corrugations c e, radial with the center of the disks, or inclining more or less to the tangential, the width and inclination of the rings varying with the centrifugal force, being of greater width and more inclined to a perpendicular as they increase in diameter. The disks E, at the junction of the inclined rings j', are also supplied with air-passages s s, each of which is provided with two funnel-shaped shields, L 7c, those on the under side having their mouths in the direction of rotation to collect the air, and those above in the opposite direction, to discharge it through the falling grain. Above each of the disks E is a series of concentric rings or short cylinders, g h, rigidly secured to the under side of the diaphragms, or in any other suitable manner, but preferably so as toL leave air-space ifi at their top, for a purpose presently to be explained.

The rings h are arranged in position above a point intermediate, or nearly so, of the two inclined rings beneath, and are provided with ribs, ledges, or corrugations 'Z l, running vertically, or nearly so, across their inner surface, and similar to the ones e before described.

The arrangement of the guard-rings g, as Well as the more particular arrangement of the rings 71 will be hereinafter more fully described.

Oylindrical shields t t surround the shaft C, to keep the grain from coming in contact with it, or so near the center of motion that the centrifugal force would be insufficient to dis-4 lodge it from its position.

Each division of the'cylinder A is provided with an air-exhaust opening, on, immediately below the junction of the diaphragm, from which extendupward suitable passages a n, that open into a pipe, F, connecting with a suction-fan or other suitable apparatus for eX- hansting the air and dust.

The inner surface of the case A is constructed with ribs or corrugations 1J p, which lows: Motion being imparted to the disks by means of a band connecting with pulley w on shaft D, the grain is let into the machine through a spout or hopper, H, at its top, whence it falls into the iirst hopper or diaphragm B, the inclined sides of which conduct it to the central opening, a, through which it descends upon the first or upper disk E. The centrifugal action of this disk causes the grain to recede till it comes in contact with the ledges of the inner inclined ring, f, where, after being agitated by them, it is thrown from the upper edge kof the latter against the inner ribbed or corrugated surface of the stationary ring h, from whence it rebounds against the outer surface of the inner cylinder, g, which causes it to again fall upon the disk, but beyond the rst inclined ring, as clearly shown in Fig. l. After being subjected to the action of the second ring f it is thrown against the second ribbed ring g, and back to the next inner guard-cylinder, (when more than the one series is employed,) and so on, till it reaches the outer inclined ring of the disk, whence it flies against the concave corrugated sides of the case A, from which it is deflected against the outer stationary guardring, and thence falls upon the second diaphragm, and through its mouth upon the second disk. In this manner it is successively subjected to the action of all the disks and rings and other co-operating parts, till it finally escapes at the bottom of the machine. The vertical guards g are arranged at such a distance above the edge of the inclined rings, which they respectively protect, as to leave sufficient space for the outward passage of the grain beneath it, but at such a position as to prevent the grain from rebounding from the corrugated rings h (which are arranged so as to intercept its outward flight) back upon the disk within the same inclined ring.

The dust and other pnlverulent matter, as it becomes detached or scoured off from the grain, is constantly drawn upward by 'the suction through the openings m and the action of the air-passages s s, the openings i', at the top of rings g and h, facilitating the escape of the dust withinthe latter. Air for sustaining the suction is supplied through suitable openings in the case between thediaphragms (not shown in the drawings) and partly from the bottom of the machine up through the central openings, a,there being sufficient draft upward through the latter to prevent any dust descending with the grain.

rEhe great advantage of my improvement is the rapid and thorough manner in which the smut-balls and other pulverulent matter are broken and reduced and the kernels of the grain scoured of its blossoms and other superfluous matter that may be attached or have adhered thereto by the constant, positive, and forcible percussion of the grain against the various corrugated or otherwise roughened surfaces, as well as the friction and concussion of the kernels one against the other, as they are rapidly whirled and thrown about in every possible direction in their passage through the machine.

Whatl claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The rings fj' of the rotating disks E, when provided with radial or tangentiallyinclined ribs c c, or their equivalent, in coinbination with the stationary rings hand ribs z', arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the above-described device, the vertic'al ribs p p, on the interior of the case, together with the hopper-shaped diaphragms B B, arranged and operating substantially as described.

3. The guard-ring g, in combination and con-A centric With the ribbed ring l1., for the purpose of deflecting the rebounding grain beyond the inclined ring beneath, arranged substantially as specified.

ROBT. HENEAGE.

Witnesses:

JAY HYATT, F. BUELL. 

